Academic Calendar

Icelandic (ICEL)

ICEL 1200  Introduction to Icelandic  6 cr  

(Lab required) Language of instruction: English. Intended for students with little or no previous knowledge of Icelandic. Emphasis will be placed on functional spoken and written comprehension and communication, with some basic Icelandic grammar. Pronunciation and conversation skills are developed in weekly language laboratory sessions. May not be held with the former ICEL 1240. Not open to students with native oral fluency.

Equiv To: ICEL 1240

Attributes: Humanities, Recommended Intro Courses

ICEL 1210  Conversational Icelandic  3 cr  

This course is offered as part of the Summer Session course offerings. Intensive study of conversational Icelandic during a field trip to Iceland. Students will be trained in groups in a classroom setting before they try their language skills in authentic situations. The course is designed for beginners as well as intermediate students. Regular attendance is obligatory. Taught in English. Open to all students.

Attributes: Humanities, Recommended Intro Courses

ICEL 1300  Introduction to Swedish  3 cr  

The course is intended for beginners. Emphasis will be placed on conversation skills and reading comprehension, and students will also learn the basic grammatical structures of the language and how to write short compositions. Pronunciation is developed in weekly language laboratory exercises. Open to all students.

Attributes: Humanities, Recommended Intro Courses

ICEL 1400  Introduction to Contemporary Culture in Iceland  3 cr  

With a rich historical backdrop beginning with the Viking Age, this course serves to demonstrate how the art forms of the past are reshaped in the present. Political and economic events with local and global factors will be explored in relation to the nation's struggle for sovereignty. Contemporary literature, music, art and culture in Iceland will be examined in the context of its past legacy of medieval myth, saga, court poetry, and later folklore, poetry and song to understand how these legacies carry forward today. May not be held with the former ICEL 1220.

Mutually Exclusive: ICEL 1220

Attributes: Humanities, Recommended Intro Courses

ICEL 1410  Introduction to Culture in Medieval Iceland  3 cr  

The aim of this course is to study a selection of sagas, history fragments, and mythological sources. The history of Icelandic literature from the medieval period will be surveyed, pursuing topics such as how literature and culture interact with one another in history, the political landscape of medieval Iceland, and representative works from the literary corpus. May not be held with ICEL 1220.

Mutually Exclusive: ICEL 1220

Attributes: Humanities, Recommended Intro Courses

ICEL 2200  Intermediate Icelandic 1  6 cr  

Languages of instruction: English and Icelandic. Emphasis on expanding the vocabulary and knowledge of more complex grammatical structures. Students develop their spoken and written comprehension and communication through conversational practice, oral presentations, watching films and television shows, studying fictional as well as non-fictional texts and writing short papers in Icelandic. May not be held with the former ICEL 2240.

PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: ICEL 1200 or the former ICEL 1240, or written consent of instructor.

Equiv To: ICEL 2240

Attributes: Humanities

ICEL 2220  Modern Icelandic Literature in Translation  3 cr  

This is a study of modern Icelandic literature through analysis of a selection of works by key Icelandic writers from the early twentieth century until the present. Students will explore the varieties of themes, literary traditions, literary movements and individual aesthetics prominent in this literature. The course also considers the development of the translation of modern Icelandic literature in the English-speaking world from early twentieth century until the present. All works will be in English or English translation.

Attributes: Humanities

ICEL 2230  Icelandic-Canadian Literature  3 cr  

A survey of poetry, prose and drama by Icelandic-Canadian authors from the late 19th century settlement to the present. The course will examine the literature's individual characteristics and its place within the broader field of Canadian and world literature. All works will be in English or English translation.

Attributes: Humanities

ICEL 2310  An Introduction to Old Icelandic Language and Literature  6 cr  

Old Icelandic/Old Norse or dǫnsk tunga was the lingua franca throughout Scandinavia and the British Isles for several centuries in the early medieval period. Learning will be focused on the vocabulary, grammatical structure and development of the language during this period, preparing students to translate Old Icelandic texts.. A variety of medieval texts will be surveyed that highlight relevant facets of the language and its history, and students will be given translation assignments in relation to their skill level.

PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: written consent of department head.

Attributes: Humanities

ICEL 2400  Icelandic Folktales  3 cr  

A study of Icelandic folklore, legends and fairy tales through a variety of methodological and theoretical approaches. This course will attempt to identify unique aspects of Icelandic folklore while also placing it in the context of other folklore traditions and the development of folkloristics. All works will be in English or English translation. May not be held with the former ICEL 2250.

Equiv To: ICEL 2250

Attributes: Humanities

ICEL 2410  Special Topics  3 cr  

Topics dealing with Icelandic literature, culture or language. Course content will vary from year to year depending on interest and needs of students and staff. The course content may vary. Students can earn multiple credits for this course only when the topic subtitle is different.

Attributes: Humanities

ICEL 3200  Intermediate Icelandic 2  6 cr  

Language of instruction: Icelandic. Emphasis on advanced syntax and grammar, word formation, and the use of idiomatic phrases. Reading of selected fictional and non-fictional texts, spoken and written discussion, translation exercises, oral presentations and written composition. May not be held with the former ICEL 3230.

PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: ICEL 2200 or the former ICEL 2240, or written consent of instructor. Pre- or corequisite: LING 1000 or LING 1440 or the former LING 1200 or the former ENGL 2470 or written consent of instructor.

Equiv To: ICEL 3230

Attributes: Humanities

ICEL 3210  Romanticism in Icelandic Literature  3 cr  

A study of Romanticism and the key players in the Icelandic Romantic movement through a selection of poems, prose texts, and fragments. The class will consider the relationship between Romanticism in Iceland and Romanticism elsewhere in Europe, as well as characteristic themes of Romanticism. All works will be in English or English translation.

PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: [a minimum of 30 credit hours of university level coursework] or written consent of department head.

Attributes: Humanities

ICEL 3320  Old Norse Mythology  3 cr  

This course explores the religion of pre-Christian Scandinavia, focusing on the myths of gods and goddesses as well as the legends of heroes and valkyries, which have been best documented in medieval Icelandic sources. There will be significant discussion of historical context and scholarly interpretations of the medieval literature. All works will be in English or English translation.

Attributes: Humanities

ICEL 3330  Icelandic Sagas in Translation  3 cr  

The Icelandic sagas tell stories of outlaws, blood feuds and epic Viking battles. They also contain evidence of Norse pagan practices, the arrival of Christianity in Northern Europe, as well as the earliest documented contact between Europeans and North America´s Indigenous peoples. In this course students will explore numerous Icelandic sagas through a variety of literary, historical, and cultural contexts. All works will be in English or English translation.

Attributes: Humanities

ICEL 3400  Old Icelandic Literature  6 cr  

A study of selected Icelandic sagas and Eddic poems.

PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: written consent of department head.

Attributes: Humanities

ICEL 4420  History of the Icelandic Language  3 cr  

A study of the development of the Icelandic language from the twelfth century to the present day.

PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: written consent of department head.

Attributes: Humanities

ICEL 4440  The Icelanders in Canada  3 cr  

Emigration from Iceland to Canada began in 1875. Since then, Icelanders worked with Canadian officials and diplomats to secure a new home for Icelanders as an entire cohesive social group. This course reviews the initial immigration to North America and its development into a “white settler reserve” for Icelanders, the initial hardships, and debates. In addition to language and art, everyday culture will be explored through food and drink. Links to further settlement in Canada and the U.S. will be explored and students will be offered a full appreciation for the complete diaspora and history of Icelanders in America.

PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: written consent of department head.

Attributes: Humanities

ICEL 4460  Special Topics  3 cr  

A seminar course whose content will vary from year to year. The course content may vary. Students can earn multiple credits for this course only when the topic subtitle is different.

PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: written consent of department head.

Attributes: Humanities